A Delhi court has granted permission for Ratul Puri, the nephew of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, to travel abroad despite being accused in a money laundering case linked to an alleged fertilizer scam.
Judge Jitendra Singh approved Puri’s travel plans to Japan from November 16 to 25, Oman from November 25 to December 1, and Thailand from December 20 to January 4, 2025.
Before his departure, Puri was instructed to submit an affidavit detailing his complete travel itinerary, including his phone number and email address. The judge also mandated that he provide a fixed deposit receipt of ₹25 lakh as a guarantee for his return.
Furthermore, the court emphasized that Puri must not attempt to tamper with evidence or influence any witnesses associated with the case while traveling abroad.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) expressed concerns that Puri might not return to India if allowed to travel and might influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. The agency highlighted the seriousness of economic offenses, noting that they often involve complex conspiracies and significant losses of public funds.
The ED argued that taking a lenient stance toward those accused of such crimes could send a detrimental message to society.
Puri was granted bail on January 18, 2023, under strict conditions prohibiting him from leaving the country without prior court approval and requiring him not to interfere with evidence or witness testimonies. In a recent order dated October 29, the court observed that Puri had been allowed to travel abroad on four prior occasions without any reported misuse of that liberty.
Judge Singh noted that the objections raised by the Directorate of Enforcement (DoE) were similar to those presented in previous applications and that there was no evidence suggesting that Puri had abused his travel privileges.
The ED’s case against Puri is part of a broader investigation into a fertilizer scam that allegedly involves substantial illegal commissions exceeding ₹685 crore. This scam reportedly includes former RJD Rajya Sabha MP Amarendra Dhari Singh and IFFCO Managing Director U.S. Awasthi, among others.
The investigation focuses on allegations that overseas suppliers paid illegal commissions to Awasthi’s NRI sons and other individuals from 2007 to 2014.
The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) is a multi-state cooperative engaged in fertilizer supply, which benefits from government subsidies aimed at keeping prices affordable. According to the ED, Awasthi and others generated proceeds of crime and obscured them through various unrelated entities, with part of the proceeds allegedly transferred to entities controlled by Awasthi and his associates.
The court’s decision to allow Puri to travel under strict conditions reflects a balance between the rights of the accused and the need for vigilance in cases involving significant financial misconduct.
